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D R A F T

Electrolytic Gas
Peter E. W. Lowrie

Preamble

This paper sets out to describe why an experimental apparatus , namely:

● Mitzubishi Cyclone

engine(s) runs on electrolytic 1 gas. That is not so strange in itself as it is well known that
Hydrogen is a fuel*. The benefit of using electrolytic gas is that the Hydrogen has with it,
its own oxidiser – Oxygen. Already perfectly proportioned, no gas mixing is required amd
so complete combustion is accomplished without the need for additional air. Here's the
rub; the car engine uses a separate belt driven three phase marine alternator in a “Y”
winding with output rated at 150 Amps at 24 Volts which is fed into three electrolysis
cells, each cell gets a single phase. Beginning at 12 Volts the cells are heated partly by hot
exhaust gas and partly by way of voltage on the plates within acting as heating elements.
When the cells get up to temperature (about 75° C) the alternator tickle supply is reduced
to a range between 1.24 to 2.00 volts which then serves to increase electrolysis efficiency
in accordance with Faraday's Law(s) of electrolysis and thus efficiencies in the order of
97.5% are achieved the cells consuming circa 600 Amps each the process becomes
endothermic and provides gas more than sufficient to fuel the engine.

Thus the engine generates its own fuel (and oxidiser) with ample power to spare. Most
argue that this is an impossible situation; at best the engine becomes a dynamic brake
and at worst it just won't work. The explanation being that you can't get more energy out
than what you put in and in citing various texts, at first glance appears quite correct. The
fact of the matter – as this paper will prove – is that the texts are either wrong or fail to
supply all of the information.

Electrochemical -V- Physical reactions

There are two bonds on the molecule – one for each Hydrogen atom (of course).
Therefore for one molecule of H 2O 870kj will break apart the water molecule and the
equivalent energy, it is said, will initiate the gas recombination. Gas and oxidiser atoms
never being in isolation, there being billions of them in n volume they undergo a chain
reaction until all available atoms are recombined releasing enormous energy in quick
time. The plasma speed is 3.9kM/sec. The ash is water. Few texts referenced to date
accounts for the energy release during recombination, more information about this
apparent dichotomy will be discussed.

The heat flame (plasma) total energy is calculated by multiplying the respective atoms'
ionisation energies for the process. The ionisation energies 2 of H = 1312.06kj and O =
1313.95kj ie 1, (3388.33kj ie 2, 5300.51kj ie 3) upon combustion the (outer in Oxygen) electron
orbits interact, merge and settle down to stable orbits:
1 Also called: Water Gas, Rhodes Gas, Browns Gas.
2 www.ktf-split.hr/periodni/en

© 2005 2006 Copyright Peter E. W. Lowrie Page: 1 of 16


D R A F T

H ie 1 + H ie 1 O ie 1 = 3,447,962.47kj (1)

Where ie is Ionisation Energy and n the energy layer (three in Oxygen) and only one in
Hydrogen.

In the discussion of thermodynamics relating to the subject matter the question of heat
is a very important one, there being two types of heat. On the one hand is heat due to
molecular motion and on the other is the heat of photons goming and going during
reactions
In order of energy strength...The formation of Hydrogen is a nuclear reaction there being
two well known modes of it's coming into existance; primordial Hydrogen and neutron
decay. Neither of which are relevent to this discussion. Oxidisation (burning) of
Hydrogen is a physical reaction of the middle energy order. And electrolytic
decomposition is a[n] [electro]chemical reaction. The notion of water being a fuel rests
in Electrolysis, of the low energy order – a chemical reaction and Combustion – a
physical reaction of the middle energy order being vastly disproportionate. This can be
shown to be the case; let  = 870kj be the total energy consumed in splitting H 2O and 
be the oxidisation expenditure in equation (1) of [combustion] energy.

 /  = 3963.18 (2)

This does not describe some “hidden” energy, nor do special- pleading of over-unity claims
have any relevance. The calculation reflects the starting position of the two gases. Even if
the bond strength is subtracted from both sides:

( - ) /  = 3962.18 (3)

...it is apparent that the combustion product is highly energetic. So which is it? The
chemical equation given:

H 2O (l) +435kj --> H + H + O (g) +435kj --> H 2O (l)


(5)

is clearly mistaken because, a) only half the required energy is given and b) there is a
continuing addition of energy on both sides and appears not to factor- in any energy
release. In any case equation (5) plugs in the correct values to the formula provided in
the text (footnote #2) and equation (6) enlarges to include the energy release.

H 2O (l) + 435kj --> HO + H + 435kj --> H + H + O (g) [+870kj --> H 2O (l)] (4)

On the one hand energy is expended to break the bonds and on the other hand energy
must be expended to remake them and clearly this imbalanced situation leaves a lot to
be desired. What actually happens is that 870kj/mole -1 is expended to begin the
recombination process and 3962kj/mole -1 is liberated as a net gain. The reason for this is
that the ionisation process in electrolysis is [electro]chemical, the initiating energy is
[electro]chemical however the resultant ionisation (combustion) process is physical.

© 2005 2006 Copyright Peter E. W. Lowrie Page: 2 of 16


D R A F T

H+H (g)+O (g) +870kj --> (H 2O (ion) -3962kj) -->H 2O (l) (5)

...and then multiply this reaction by the gas volume denoted by Avogadro's number.

The author of this paper is not in isolation insofar as these apparently anomalous results
are concerned, others have addressed the issue. 3" The smallest amount of energy
needed to electrolyse one mole of water is 65.3 Wh at 25 degrees Celsius (77
degrees F). When the Hydrogen and Oxygen are recombined into water during
combustion 79.3 Wh of energy is released. 14 Wh more energy is released in
burning Hydrogen and Oxygen than is required to split water. This excess must be
absorbed from the surrounding media(environment) in the form of heat during
electrolysis." [...] "At 25 degrees celcius, for voltages of 1.23 to 1.47 V, the
electrolysis reaction ABSORBS HEAT. At over 1.47 V at 25 degrees celcius, the
reaction gives off heat."

The electrolysis cell voltage, overvoltage may be 1.3V therefore 1.47V + 1.3V = 2.77V is the
voltage supplied.

One mole of water weighs 18 grams.

1000 Grams water = 1 Liter

1000 grams/ 18grams = 55.55moles

Therefore 1 Liter H 2O produces 55.55 Moles of Hydrogen and 27.775 Moles of Oxygen.
870Kj H 2O produces as above which is then equal to 48328.50kj per Liter H 2O.
Conversion to kWhr divide by 3600 ( or x by .0002778) = 3.658 kWhr per Liter H 2O

1 Mole of Gas = 24.450 liters of gas at room temperature, “T” and atmospheric pressure
“P”. 55.55 x 24.450 = 1,358.3 liters of Hydrogen (and 679.15 liters of Oxygen) from 1 Liter
of H 2O.

Gibbs Free Energy

Do the rules comprising Gibbs Free Energy reconcile with the energy shown in equation
(1 - 7)? No. Provided there are energy co- efficients involved does GFE get turned on it's
head? The Wien effect does it to Ohms Law. Why not here as well? Some reactions are
spontaineous because they are exothermic H<0, and others are spontaineous because
they are entropic S>0. The combustion of electrolytic gas is exothermic but the
question of entropy is a moot point. Two disordered gases ignited combine to make
water which is not an increasing entropy proposition, therefore in our calculation S<1.
Provided the GFE of a system at the end of the reaction is defined as the enthalpy of the
system less the product of the temperature multiplied by it's entropy.

H = Enthalpy
S = Entropy

G= H - (TS) (x)

3 "FUEL FROM WATER" M. A.Peavey. Merit, Inc. LCCCN 88-188956 ISBN 0-945516- 04-5 Page 22.

© 2005 2006 Copyright Peter E. W. Lowrie Page: 3 of 16


D R A F T

The usual standard- state free energy of this system G˚ cannot be applied herein due to
the rapidly changing temperatures involved in the reaction and the Enthalpy is:

G =

H g + H g + O g(1S) = -318.402 kcal/mol

= H

H g + H g + O g(1S) = -151.81

=S x 6000˚

= H - -910,860kcal/mol (x)

Following combustion of the gases at 6000ºC the resulting oxide cools until it reaches
ambient temperature, the molecules return to their lowest energy and the amount of
energy released persuant to GFE is close to the energy taken by the other route in earlier
equations, in other words – a lot more than the Hydrogen bond strength.

Alas it is not that simple though. One cannot say that the “heat” of electrolysis is
equivalent to this heat of combustion their being crossovers of photonic and molecular
heat during the exchanges.

Faraday's Laws 4

R ⋅ I ⋅T ⋅ t
V = (8)
F ⋅ p⋅z

where:
V = volume of the gas [L],
R = ideal gas constant = 0.0820577 L*atm/(mol*K), = current [A],
T = temperature [°K],
t = time [s],
F = Faraday’s constant = 96485.31 As/mol,
p = ambient pressure [atm],
z = number of excess electrons (2 for H 2, 4 for O 2).

Assume that STP (Standard Temperature and Pressure) conditions and the electrolyzer
runs at one Amp for one hour:

T=0
C = 273.15° K
p = 1 atm
t = 3600 seconds

4 Courtesy Tero Ranta

© 2005 2006 Copyright Peter E. W. Lowrie Page: 4 of 16


D R A F T

I = 1 Amp

Total Oxygen- Hydrogen volume is Hydrogen volume + Oxygen volume:

0.0820577 ⋅1 ⋅ 273 .15 ⋅ 3600 0 .0820577 ⋅ 1 ⋅ 273 .15 ⋅ 3600


VH 2 + VO2 = + = 0.418151 L + 0 .209075 L = 0 .627226 L
96485 .13 ⋅ 1 ⋅ 2 96485 .13 ⋅1 ⋅ 4

This corresponds to about 0.627 liters per hour per Amp or 1.595Ah/l per cell.

If for example you have 7 cells in series and put 11A through the electrolyzer, according
to Faraday’s Law you would produce:

0.627l/Ah*11A*7 = ~48.3 Liters per hour (10)

at STP conditions.

Note, however, that this applies only at a certain temperature (0°C) and pressure (1 atm).
The produced gas volume will scale with ratio of temperatures in Kelvins (higher
temperature = higher volume) and inversely with the ratio of pressures (lower pressure =
higher volume).

If at 0°C (273.15°K) the production rate is 0.627 l/Ah, then at 25°C:

273.15°K+25°K=298.15K (11)

the production rate is:

298.15/273.15 = ~109% (12)

larger or about 0.685 l / Ah. With 7 cells and 11A this would be 52.5 Liters per hour.

On the other hand is the output gas has a temperature of 40°C while it is being measured
and the ambient pressure of 0.75 atm (about 1.5km elevation above sea level), the
electrolyzer that produces 48.3 liters per hour at STP will produce:

313.15°K/273.15°K*1atm/0.75atm*48.3l/hr = 73.8l/hr
(13)

So even though the volume of the gas is larger at higher temperature and lower pressure,
the energy contained in the gas or the energy required to electrolyze it is the same. If you
produce the gas at 40C and 0.75ATM and bring it to 0C and 1ATM, the volume will
reduce by about 35%. Thus it is very important to include the pressure and temperature
in calculations.

What may not be immediately clear is that different experimenters report various results
that are prima facae out of step with cherished laws. Some experimenters report
efficiencies that appear in excess of Faraday's Law yet others no matter how hard they
try attain only low levels of efficiency. Are the over unity claims due to errors in method

© 2005 2006 Copyright Peter E. W. Lowrie Page: 5 of 16


D R A F T

or calculation? Probably!. But then one has to consider consistent variances shown by
experimenters as detailed in the analysis of their results which ultimately culminates in
the preponderance of combustion energy output many times more than expected.

Thermodynamics of Electrolytic Gases 5

The heat of combustion values for monoatomic and diatomic (conventional) electrolytic
oxyhydrogen gas are compared below.

When conventional diatomic (tank gases) oxygen (O 2) and hydrogen (H 2) are ignited, the
bonds between the gas atoms in the diatomic gas molecules have to be broken first. This
consumes energy. Energy is then released § when the H and O atoms recombine into
H 2O. The total amount of energy released is the sum of these two energies, where the
other one has “+” sign and the other one “-” sign.

While the heat of combustion for conventional diatomic H 2 is shown in thermodynamic


tables, the values for the monoatomic 2H + O, H 2O reaction is not usually shown. It is
calculated in the following:

6 Dissociation of diatomic hydrogen gas into hydrogen atoms (consumes energy):

H 2(g) 2H(g) H = 217.998 kJ (14)

Dissociation of diatomic oxygen gas into oxygen atoms: (consumes energy):

O 2(g) 2O(g) H = 249.18 kJ (15)

Combustion of diatomic H 2 and O 2 to form water as steam (releases energy):

H 2(g) + ½O 2(g) H 2O(g) H = -241.826 kJ (16)

Dissociation of diatomic H 2 and O 2 molecules into monoatomic form (consumes


energy):

H 2(g) + ½O 2(g) 2H(g) + O(g) H = 217.988 + ½*249.18 kJ = 342.578 kJ (17)

Combustion of monoatomic H and O to form water as steam (releases energy):

2H(g) + O(g) H 2O(g) H = -(342.578 + 249.18) kJ = -591.758 kJ (18)

Combustion of diatomic oxyhydrogen into water in the form of steam (releases energy):

H 2(g) + ½O 2(g) H 2O(g) H = -241.826 kJ (19)

Combustion of monoatomic oxyhydrogen (releases energy):

5
Courtesy Tero Ranta
6 CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 84 th ed.

© 2005 2006 Copyright Peter E. W. Lowrie Page: 6 of 16


D R A F T

2H(g) + O(g) H 2O(g) H = -591.758 kJ (20)

Combusting a certain amount (by weight) of oxyhydrogen in this calculation releases


about 2.45 times more energy if the oxyhydrogen is monoatomic instead of diatomic.
Monoatomic oxyhydrogen has twice the volume for the same weight than does diatomic
oxyhydrogen. This means that igniting one liter of monoatomic oxyhydrogen releases
only about 1.23 more energy than the same volume of diatomic oxyhydrogen. However
the theoretical energy consumption to dissociate one liter of monoatomic oxyhydrogen
from water is half of that required to dissociate one liter of conventional diatomic oxygen
and hydrogen gases.

§It may also be noted that when the two Hydrogen atoms merge photons in the UV band
are released. In order to inhibit this merger it may be possible to subject the Hydrogen to
strong UV (class C) radiation

© 2005 2006 Copyright Peter E. W. Lowrie Page: 7 of 16


D R A F T

Electrical features in Electrolysis

The theoretical decomposition voltage for electrolysis is 1.23 volts at room temperature
(16 – 20 degrees C), however because of over- voltage of H on the cathode and also due to
cell resistance itself voltages of 2.00 to 2.25 volts are usually required. Over voltage relates
to charge held in the cell, the cell acting as an inefficient battery (resistance, capacitance,
inductance).

1. E = I x R. I = E / R. R = E / I.
2. 12 volts (nominal) / 3 cells = 4 volts per cell
3. To determine current: E / R.
E=4
R = 12 x 10 6
I = 10 x 3 6

When lowering the electrolyte impedance to c.1.2k the current will be 300 Amps,
theoretically.

  


  
  
  
  
  
Table 2

...takes no consideration any voltage drop at the electrodes. On Mk1.1 the reactor
experienced an 8 to 10 Volt drop when powered at 12 – 14 Volts. If three cells are
connected in series the voltage at each is 4 volts, the voltage drop therefore
renders the reactor inoperative and in series only the centre cell produces
significant quantities of gas. As electrolyte is added and the cell impedance drops
the power consumption increases as does the gas output.

Ohms Law dictates the current and voltage levels in the cell are relative to resistance,
however clear signs emerge during testing that there is a kink in this Law. Whereas the
cell resistance at 10k , 1.23 Volts - load should equate to 0.13 milli-Amps in fact the
reciprocal of this value is obtained. In all electronic/electrical circuits heat is generated.
When powering the cell with increased voltages ranging from 6 to 40 volts heat is
generated and the cell warms up as would be expected in an exothermic system. When
voltage is reduced to that dictated by Faraday's Laws of Electrolysis the cell cools and
begins to absorb energy from the surrounding atmosphere, that is; the circuit becomes
endothermic. In order to keep the cell temperature at that required for highly efficient
electrolysis IR radiation must be introduced to keep the electrolyte warm.

This breakage in Ohms Law is repugnant to most and many have stated that it is
impossible. The clamp meter does not lie, how can Ohms Law be rent asunder in this
manner? The answer lies within thermodynamic systems reported by Willhelm Wein in

© 2005 2006 Copyright Peter E. W. Lowrie Page: 8 of 16


D R A F T

studies of Black Body radiation and is defined in the Wein Displacement Law 7The
increase of the mobility of an ion in high electrical field . The mobility of an ion is
somewhat decreased by the presence of the ionic atmosphere because the
predominantly oppositely charged ions surrounding the central ion will tend to hold it
back. This effect is included in the normally measured mobility. However, when the ion
is exposed to very high electrical field, it will move so fast that it will, in effect, leave
behind its atmosphere which does not have time to reform, and the mobility of the ion
(consequently the electrical conductivity of the solution) will increase. See also the
Debye- Falkenhagen effect .:

b=lmax T=C2/4.96511423

And that electrolysis does not follow the usual VI curve usually associated with electronic
circuits. 8"The v-i transfer function always applies. Impedance is the instantaneous slope of that function".
Mathematically this can be stated resistance: R = dV / dI . Ohm's law, as stated, is just a specific case of the
above were dV / dI remains constant for a (in practice limited) range of voltage and current. Materials where
R is constant over a useful range of voltages are sometimes referred to as 'ohmic'. The "big R" in R = dV / dI
is NOT intended to denote a constant, since the differential term dV / dI (or slope) is only a constant in the
linear case. R is a variable representing a variable resistance. R is a constant r is a variable. The issue is
that the resistance of a cell is nonlinear which means that it exhibits different resistances at different
operating points of voltage and current. At any given point of current and voltage, ohms law very much does
apply. When you measure the resistance with a simple ohmmeter, you are measuring it at one point, a point
with a very low sense voltage. The resistance is high at this voltage, the cell is barely in conduction. At a
different, higher voltage, say several volts, the cells conduction increases, the resistance drops and the
current comes on as observed. If you had an ohmmeter that measured at that higher voltage, it would show
the appropriate low resistance. There are many electrical devices that exhibit non- linear behavior besides
electrolytic cells. The common diode comes to mind. There the resistance is a function of polarity in addition
to being nonlinear in the forward direction. At a few millivolts of forward voltage, most diodes have a
resistance of megohms. This decreases down to an ohm or below as the voltage exceeds .7 volts. Note that
these non-linearities have nothing to do with reactance as applied to AC circuits with inductors and
capacitors.

7 http:/ /electrochem.cwru.edu / ed / dict.htm#w01


8 nntp:/ /sci.energy.hydrogen

© 2005 2006 Copyright Peter E. W. Lowrie Page: 9 of 16


D R A F T

*Hydrogen is NOT just an energy carrier

Don Lancaste in his paper 9EnergFun claims that Hydrogen is not in fact a fuel but
merely an energy carrier.

There are only three elements in combustion, known as the combustion triangle,
namely; Fuel, Oxidiser and Heat. If this is the case then Hydrogen is clearly a fuel. Every
fuel known to mankind features Hydrogen in the mix: Hydrocarbons, fuel gas(es), coal
and even wood all contain various amounts of Hydrogen and in the Hydrocarbons, the
lengths of the Hydrogen- Carbon chains determine it's combustive potency; Ipso Facto
Hydrogen is a Fuel.

Facts of the matter so often overlooked, in particular in the Internet newsgroup;


http:/ /groups.google.com/sci.energy.hydrogen by group participants is that Hydrogen is
highly explosive in air. So explosive, in fact that it is considered a 10 concussive, as
opposed to an incendiary explosion. And even more explosive still when the Hydrogen
gas is proportionately mixed with Oxygen – there being insufficient Oxygen available in
air to provide complete Hydrogen combustion. What is missed is that the explosive
(photonic heat) energy far exceeds the disassociation energy and then the onset of
molecular cooling sets in.

Flame speed:

• Hydrogen in Oxygen 3900 meters /sec concussive


• Petroleum in air 30cm/sec incendiary

From a safety standpoint it may be propitious that when Hydrogen goes off there is little
risk of colateral fire the event being over so quicky that in most cases nearby
combustables cannot get enough heat for a long enough period to spontaineously catch
alight. Certainly there will be colateral damage to surrounding materials, but then- again;
the event is so rapid that the force accelerates past and heavier items will remain largely
unaffected. Hardware involved in the event, the gas containment device – for example,
will exhibit fractures and other effects of explosive energy.

The Infrastructure Hobgoblin

In our consumer society much ado is made of our dependence on multinational


corporations to provide materials for our sustenance and advancement.
Notwithstanding anecdotal stories of cloak- and- dagger conspiracies, I contend that ill
fate suffered by inventors in the energy field has been perpetrated by other jealous
inventors and not by way of corporate shenanigans. Even if, in times past such
corporations have embarked on criminal activities the world has changed dramatically.
The political assemblies becoming more representative of a wider range of populace are
somewhat more enlightened than was the case in the relatively recent oil crisis in 1974,
dodgy dealings are less likely to be perpetrated now. In 2005 the world faces new energy

9 Reproduced, see Appendix 1


10 Properties of Hydrogen Combustion. NACA report 1383.

© 2005 2006 Copyright Peter E. W. Lowrie Page: 10 of 16


D R A F T

crises. On one hand the globe is nine 11 times over- subscribed in electricity generation
the detraction being found in transmission inefficiencies and on the other hand global
conflict and excessive demand has had a negative effect on oil supply thrusting the price
of oil to record highs. There is no evidence that the world is running out of oil and there
is also no evidence that it is not. Petrochemicals will always have a place in society
providing us with useful products including industrial chemicals, lubricants, fuels and
plastics. What is a moot point is whether recent discussions about the “Hydrogen
Economy” bear any relevance insofar as Hydrogen Infrastructure is concerned.
Hydrogen may be produced in almost any location on Earth, the Author envisages
appliance sized gas plants placed in homes, plugged into the wall and generating
Hydrogen and Oxygen by electrolysis for automotive use. The proponent drives the
vehicle into the garage and connects to the Hydrogen source which replenishes the tank
(s) thus emptying the stored Hydrogen. After driving off again the appliance continues
operating 24/7 refilling tanks for later use.

The foregoing becomes academic in the face of on- board, on- demand fuel systems
contained within the engine bay which produces all of the engines' needs in which
refueling is accomplished either by way of introduced distilled water or by the rain water
falling on the vehicle during use that is then collected and distilled in a heat exchanger
also within the engine bay. The question then is; what point infrastructure?

Credit where it's due

For the most part the prototypes constructed to demonstrate the power and
practicability of EGas as a fuel rest with work done in the 1970's by an English immigrant
to New Zealand, namely; Archie Blue. What this writer has done is to take the kernels of
Mr. Blue's work, develop and improve upon it in order to bring about devices that not
only work but that also may be held up for industrial standards, materials safety data
sheets and for dissemination of the information to a world- wide audience.

In this section the writer will discuss the originating invention and the work performed
to improve upon it.

In the early 1970's Archie Blue demonstrated his electrolysis device to engineers in both
New Zealand and Guernsey. Practical limits where the Mini that it ran on would only
accomplish low speeds, use copious amounts of water and dissolved aluminium
electrodes such that, although it worked, it did not work for long periods.

The original devices sighted by the author were in Agee preserving jars. Clearly the
wrong material to use. Furthermore, the power supplied to the electrolysers was taken
straight from the vehicles electrical system which caused excessive heating and melted
wires. No work was performed by Mr. Blue to explain the devices in terms of Faradays
Laws of Electrolysis. The electrolyte was Sulphuric Acid (Battery Acid) and on the
application of electrical current the aluminium electrodes began to dissolve releasing
EGas in the process. This EGas was then fed into the modified S.U. brand carburettor for
direct induction to the combustion chambers.

What has this author done to improve upon and develop the original invention?
11 http:/ /www.wired.com

© 2005 2006 Copyright Peter E. W. Lowrie Page: 11 of 16


D R A F T

● The electrolysis units have been constructed of stainless steel


● Heavy duty check valves are placed at the top of each cell
● Potassium Hydroxide is added as electrolyte
● Sacrificial electrodes have been dispensed with in favour of stainless steel.
● The pressure source is added from the bottom of the cells
● The electrical supply is induced at the bottom of the cells so that no surfaces are
exposed to EGas
● The pressure source is provided by gas from the exhaust
● A seperate power supply has been added that allows for voltage adjustment
● Electrical characteristics have been defined
● Harmonic resonance has been induced to electrodes

The crux of the invention has been retained as it relates to using three electrolysis cells,
the output from the one cell feeding the input to the next which appears to enrich the
gas evolved from the output of the third and final cell. Direct injection to the modified
S.U. brand carburettor has been dispensed with in favour of using an Impco brand
natural gas regulator. The new and improved unit also has safety features built into it
such as pressure relief valves

© 2005 2006 Copyright Peter E. W. Lowrie Page: 12 of 16


D R A F T

Experimental devices

Variable Power Supply


Description and Theory of Operation
Design an electromechanical power supply with varying output at high current.

The supplys belt drive couples to crankshaft. It is 3 phase “Y” winding rated at 24 Volts, 150 Amps. All
alternators require a field voltage which determines the output voltage. As the voltage is lowered the
Amperage increases proportionately, therefore:

Supply Current
24Volts 150Amps
12 300
6 600
2 1,800 12

The built- in DC rectification is not used. At full power and


at about 2500RPM the alternator outputs 24 volts and 150
Amps. As the electrolyte heats up the tickle supply voltage
is wound back to about 2 volts. At reduced voltages the
built- in rectifier drops- out. Using the single DC output to
drive three cells is unreliable.

Heating for electrolysis is also accomplished via hot


exhaust exhaust gas entering cell #1 13. At all points of use
the electrolysis cells maintain their own charge, this is
called electrode overvoltage. Faradays Law determines the
optimum voltage for electrolysis to be 1.27 volts above
this. The alternator supply tickle is therefore maintained at
electrode overvoltage plus 1.27 Volts. Full gas production
is not accomplished at elevated voltages.

For full wave rectification each phase has it's own rectifier
which is fed into the electrolysis cells. Each cell therefore
gets up to 600 Amps in this configuration. There is no
reason why larger alternators cannot be used with one
proviso; the AC outputs must be accessable. The built- in
alternator rectifier fails at low voltage and this is the
reason for using customisedelta wound alternators
provide more current than do “Y” wound devices.

The choke between cathodes and earth is there to balance


the inductance of the alternator windings.

12 Field losses by way of coil resistance, capacitance and inductance are not shown.
13 Details on another diagram

© 2005 2006 Copyright Peter E. W. Lowrie Page: 13 of 16


D R A F T

Electrolysers
Description and Theory of Operation
Design an efficient electrolysis cell that provides high volumes of rich gas.

A metered supply of hot 14 engine exhaust gas is intoduced to the bottom of a stainless steel pressure vessel.
The gas percolates through four electrodes knocking off some gas bubbles on it's way up through the
electrolyte. The gas output from cell 1 is repeated in cells 2 and 3 which helps to provide a richer
concentration of gas called electrolytic Gas. This is a fuel gas.

The electrolyte consists of distilled water with Potassium Hydroxide added to a concentration no more
than 30%. Potassium Hydroxide KOH is the conductive base with the highest electrochemical potential. It
does not cause signicficant degredation to electrode surfaces.

The cells measure 100mm dia by 250mm, have 2 each cathodes and anodes which are rated at 14kw. The
pipes between cells increase in diameter from 5mm to 19mm. Atop each cell is a stainless steel check valve
to prevent flowback of gas and this in turn keeps the fluid in the cells.

Electrolyte level within the cell is maintained by way of a float switch that connects power to a solenoid
valve. Behind the solenoid valve is a check valve to prohibit backflow.

The tank must not be conductive, if it is then it must be isolated from earth to stop the water from making a
circuit that turns the cell body into a cathode. The electrodes are fitted from the bottom of the cell and
comprise two each perforated stainless steel plates. Conductors are 8mm threaded rod. The electrodes
must be keyed to prevent them twisting and shorting to the cell body.

14 Faradays Laws of Electrolysis determine the optimu m temperature to be in the range 70 to 80 degrees Celcius.

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D R A F T

The tank contains distilled water – the electrolyte is maintained within the cells. Because KOH does not
dissipate into the gas flow the concentration is maintained within for a considerable time.

Attached to the cathode conductor is an electromechanical device, piezzo, high output speaker or similar
that vibrates. Following manufacture of electrodes of precisely simillar dimensions, ie; mass production, an
electrode is placed into the vice which is tightened down at the point where the conductor passes through
the cell body. Attached (glued) to one of the electrode plates is a compound microphone that is coupled to
an oscilliscope 15. In sample and hold mode the oscilliscope records the vibrations eminating from the
electrodes when it is played with a violin bow. This determines the electrodes' resonant frequency.

A function generator tuned to the resonant frequency 16 of the electrode is amplified and transmitted to the
speaker device attached to the cathode. It is put on the cathode because this is the Hydrogen gas source the
anode will resonate in sympathy due to it being submersed and that it has exacly the same resonant
frequency as the cathode. This causes the electrodes to vibrate violently within the electrolyte the effect
being a virtual increase in surface area and thus more gas production and the side- by- side movement

15 That also displays frequency.


16 Usually in the order of 5 – 600 hz

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D R A F T

causes gas bubbles to release from the surface at the rate determined by it's oscillation (nifty!).

Electrolysis can be made very efficient and high nineties (percent efficiency) is not difficult to accomplish.
With the combination provided by way of Faradays Laws wherein temperature is maintained at c.75°C,
voltage at 1.27 volts (above electrode overvoltage) and power in the kilowatts efficiency of 97.5% is not
unrealistic. It must be pointed out that at these parameters the electrolytic process tunnels into an
exothermic state. Although, stricktly speaking all circuits generate heat and therefore losses, they operate
endothermically and all physical laws are complied with. Not- so electrolysis, clearly this state of change
has an effect – in particular Ohms Law appears to break. One must now approach the calculations vis-a- vis
efficiency within the bounds of Blackbody Radiation and the Wein Effect. Coming back to this
“combination”, whereas Tero Ranta's data shows that better than 100% efficiency can be accomplished
without addition of any other tricky bits the notion of providing electromechanical motion using small
quantities of power to release larger amounts of gas in this system will add to the output efficiency.

Summary

Before there was water there was only gas. In space water is formed by electrical
discharges through reasonably dense atomic/molecular clouds. Terrestrial water was
formed by three routes:

1. Water captured from space.


2. Electrical discharges, and latterly;
3. Cellular metabolism.

A small electrical discharge sets in motion chain reactions between Hydrogen and
Oxygen in a physical event that releases orders of magnitude more energy than is
required to then, in an electrochemical reaction, break apart the resulting oxide -
there being no detractions from physical law when these facts are processed in their
correct order. The oxide does not exist prior to the gas!.

So far as Electrolytic Gas' use as an internal combustion fuel is concerned it must be


noted that the first ever internal combustion engine 17 invented in c.1807AD used
electrolytic gas as its fuel.

17 DeRivas

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